Verzo launches Kinzo phone: Android 2.2, offline GPS for $459 unlocked

Verzo launched the Kinzo today, an Android 2.2-based smartphone that eschews high-end specs for offline GPS, accessories, and access to the company’s future.

by David Pierce

Source Verzo | Via Engadget

Nov 11, 2011, 4:07 PM UTC

Verzo Kinzo

David Pierce is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.

The Kinzo, a new phone from Czech company Verzo that was supposed to launch in September, has made its belated debut today. It's running a heavily modified version of Android 2.2 on a 4.3-inch screen, and it's quite good-looking, but there's not much in the way of impressive hardware: a 1GHz TI OMAP processor, 512MB of RAM, and front and rear cameras. Verzo seems to know what it's getting into, though, naming among its competitors the HTC Desire HD and Nexus One. Both those handsets are over a year old, and can also probably be found unlocked for less than the $459 you'll spend on the Kinzo.

In return for lesser specs, you get offline GPS navigation for all of Europe, a number of accessories (including a “luxurious car charger,” which seems like quite the feat), and access to the Verzo Community, where you can meet other Verzo owners and even help decide the future of the brand’s applications and hardware. We’re not sure if those are worthy tradeoffs, but if you’re interested in the Kinzo hit the source to check it out.

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